Garment with removable hand protectors

ABSTRACT

A coat assembly or garment can include a coat portion and/or one or more sleeves and one or more hand protectors. A hand protector can be configured to be removably coupled to a distal end of a sleeve. The hand protectors, which may include gloves, mittens, or the like, may be removably couplable to the sleeve via a fastener such as a zipper.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/008,267, titled COAT ASSEMBLY WITH REMOVABLE HAND PROTECTORS, filed Jun. 5, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to assemblies or garments comprising an outer garment and hand protectors. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to coats wherein hand protectors are removably couplable to the outer garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments disclosed herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings depict only typical embodiments, which embodiments will be described with additional specificity and detail in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a garment assembly, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in an uncoupled configuration; and

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the garment assembly of FIG. 1 in a coupled configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Gloves, mittens, and other hand protectors are worn to protect hands from an environment around them. It may be challenging or difficult to keep hand protectors on the hands of small children or toddlers. The present disclosure provides embodiments of systems and methods that may allow parents or caretakers of small children or toddlers to securely couple hand protectors to other outerwear, such as a coat. When the hand protectors are not desired or needed, however, the parent or caretaker may completely uncouple and detach the hand protectors from the coat portion. Upon decoupling or detachment of the hand protectors, the hand protectors may be stored in another location, when not in use, or the hand protectors may be interchanged with different hand protectors as desired or needed (e.g., gloves instead of mittens).

The disclosed coat assemblies and garments may include a coat portion, which may be used and may function well without any hand protectors, as desired. The hand protectors can be completely decoupled from the coat portion, which can allow the user to avoid, for example, a potential nuisance of the hand protectors dangling from the coat portion, snagging objects in the vicinity of the coat portion (e.g., tree branches), and/or potentially tearing the coat portion. The disclosed coat assemblies and garments may also allow or permit a user to interchange the hand protectors with other compatible hand protectors if the user desires or needs a different size, color, or style of hand protectors. For example, thicker hand protectors may be more suitable in cold weather and thinner hand protectors may be more suitable in cool weather. Also, as the hand protectors are completely removable from the coat portion, a damaged or otherwise unsuitable hand protector may be replaced with another hand protector without having to replace the coat assembly.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the hand protectors may be removably couplable to the coat portion via a zipper. A zipper may be advantageous as a coupling or attachment mechanism. A zipper can be durable, easy to use, and/or stylish. The zipper may be relatively weather resistant. The zipper can be aesthetically blended with the coat portion and the hand protectors. Additionally, a zipper can generate a strong, secure attachment or coupling between the hand protectors and the coat portion, that can also allow decoupling of the hand protectors from the coat portion.

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

The phrase “coupled to” as used herein refers to an interaction between two or more entities that secures the one or more entities in position relative to each other. Two components may be coupled to each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other. For example, two components may be coupled to each other through an intermediate component. The term “couplable to” as used herein refers to one or more entities being configured to be coupled to one another.

The terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein to refer to a position relative to a center portion of an individual when the disclosed garment is being worn by the individual. The proximal end of a portion of the garment is defined as the end of the portion of the garment closest to the center portion of the individual wearing the garment. The distal end is the end opposite the proximal end, or the end furthest from the center portion of the individual wearing the garment.

The term “coat” is used broadly throughout this disclosure to refer to a variety of outer garments comprising sleeves that cover at least portion of an upper portion of a body. Other terms that may be encompassed by the term “coat” as used herein include, but are not limited to, jackets, parkas, tunics, etc.

The term “hand protector” is used broadly throughout this disclosure to refer to a variety of garments used to cover a hand. Other terms that may be encompassed by the term “hand protector” as used herein include, but are not limited to, gloves, mittens, etc.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a garment assembly 100. The garment assembly 100 is also a coat assembly 100 with a first hand protector 140 and a second hand protector 150 in an uncoupled configuration. The coat assembly 100 includes a coat portion 110 that comprises a first sleeve 120 and a second sleeve 130. As illustrated, each of the first sleeve 120 and the second sleeve 130 comprise a first cuff 122 and a second cuff 132, respectively. Additionally, a first fastener portion 160 a is coupled to and/or disposed at or adjacent a distal end 124 of the first sleeve 120. Likewise, a first fastener portion 160 b is coupled to and/or disposed at or adjacent a distal end 134 of the second sleeve 130. The coat assembly 100 may also comprise at least one hand protector. As depicted, the coat assembly 100 comprises a first hand protector 140 and a second hand protector 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the coat portion 110 is not coupled to or connected to either of the first hand protector 140 or the second hand protector 150.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, each of the first hand protector 140 and the second hand protector 150 comprise a first cuff 142 and a second cuff 152, respectively. Additionally, a second fastener portion 170 a is coupled to and/or disposed at or adjacent a proximal end 146 of the first hand protector 140. Likewise, a second fastener portion 170 b is coupled to and/or disposed at or adjacent a proximal end 156 of the second hand protector 150. In certain embodiments, the first hand protector 140 may be removably couplable to a distal end 124 of the first sleeve 120, and the second hand protector 150 may be removably couplable to the distal end 134 of the second sleeve 130. Stated otherwise, the first hand protector 140 can be coupled to a distal end 124 of the first sleeve 120 in a coupled configuration and can be completely disconnected from and uncoupled from the first sleeve 120 in an uncoupled configuration. Similarly, the second hand protector 150 can be coupled to a distal end 134 of the second sleeve 130 in a coupled configuration and can be completely disconnected from and uncoupled from the second sleeve 130 in an uncoupled configuration.

In various embodiments, at least one of the first hand protector 140 and the second hand protector 150 can be selected from at least one of a glove, a mitten, or another suitable garment. Each of the first hand protector 140 and the second hand protector 150 may be configured for the same or for different environmental conditions (e.g., different temperatures, moisture blocking, moisture wicking) than each of the third hand protector and the fourth hand protector.

The first hand protector 140 may be removably couplable to the distal end 124 of the first sleeve 120 via the first fastener portion 160 a, and the second hand protector 150 may be removably couplable to the distal end 134 of the second sleeve 130 via the first fastener portion 160 b. In some embodiments, a fastener (i.e., the first and second fastener portions) can be selected from at least one of a hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro®), a zipper, a plurality of clasps, a plurality of buttons, or another suitable fastener.

In some embodiments, the first fastener portion 160 a, 160 b may comprise a first zipper portion. In certain embodiments, the second fastener portion 170 a, 170 b may comprise a second zipper portion. For example, the first hand protector 140 can be removably coupled to the distal end 124 of the first sleeve 120 via a zipper, and the second hand protector 150 can be removably coupled to the distal end 134 of the second sleeve 130 via a zipper. Such a configuration may provide a user with the option of coupling the first and second hand protectors 140, 150 to the coat portion 110 such that the first and second hand protectors 140, 150 are securely fixed to the coat portion 110. Alternatively, the user may also have the option of decoupling the first and second hand protectors 140, 150 from that coat portion 110 via the zipper when the first and second hand protectors 140, 150 are not needed and/or wanted. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second hand protectors 140, 150 can be completely unzipped and completely uncoupled from the coat portion 110.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the coat assembly 100 of FIG. 1, wherein the hand protectors 140, 150 are removably coupled to the coat portion 110 of the coat assembly 100, in a coupled configuration. As discussed above, in some embodiments, an outer garment such as the coat assembly 100 comprises a coat or coat portion 110 and a plurality of hand protectors 140, 150, wherein the hand protectors 140, 150 can be configured to be removably attached to the coat 110. Further, the hand protectors 140, 150 may be configured to be removably coupled or attached to the distal ends 124, 134 of the sleeves 120, 130 of the coat 110.

As depicted, each of the sleeves 120, 130 comprises a first fastener portion 160 a, 160 b, and each of the hand protectors 140, 150 comprises a second fastener portion 170 a, 170 b. The first fastener portions 160 a, 160 b can be configured to be removably attached or coupled to the second fastener portions 170 a, 170 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the first fastener portions 160 a, 160 b comprises a first zipper portion, and each of the second fastener portions 170 a, 170 b comprises a second zipper portion, wherein each of the first zipper portions is configured to be removably attached to each of the second zipper portions, such that the plurality of hand protectors 140, 150 are configured to be removably attached to the coat 110 via each of the first zipper portions and the second zipper portions.

In some embodiments, the coat assembly 100 may be used with children, including small children or toddlers. It may be challenging or difficult to keep hand protectors such as gloves or mittens on the hands of children or toddlers. The coat assembly 100 of the present disclosure may allow parents or caretakers of children or toddlers to securely couple hand protectors to a coat. When the hand protectors are not desired or needed, however, the parent or caretaker may completely decouple the hand protectors from the coat portion. Upon decoupling or detachment of the hand protectors, the hand protectors may be stored when not in use, or the hand protectors may be interchanged with different hand protectors when desired or needed (e.g., gloves instead of mittens).

The user of the coat assembly 100 of the present disclosure may use the coat portion 110 without the hand protectors 140, 150 when desired. As the hand protectors 140, 150 are completely decouplable from the coat portion 110, the user may avoid the potential nuisance of the hand protectors 140, 150 dangling from the coat portion 110, snagging objects in the vicinity of the coat portion 110 (e.g., tree branches), and/or potentially tearing the coat portion 110. The coat assembly 100 of the present disclosure may also allow or permit a user to interchange the hand protectors 140, 150 with other compatible hand protectors if the user desires or needs a different size, color, or style of hand protectors. For example, thicker hand protectors may be more suitable in cold weather and thinner hand protectors may be more suitable in cool weather. Also, as the hand protectors 140, 150 are completely removable from the coat portion 110; a damaged or otherwise unsuitable hand protector may be replaced with another hand protector without having to replace the coat assembly 100.

In various embodiments, the hand protectors 140, 150 may be removably couplable to the coat portion 110 via a zipper. A zipper may be advantageous as a method of coupling or attachment. In some embodiments, a zipper may be durable, easy to use, and/or stylish. Additionally, a zipper may generate a strong attachment or coupling between the hand protectors 140, 150 and the coat portion 110, the zipper may be relatively weather resistant in comparison to some other fastening mechanisms, and/or the zipper may comprise an ability to be aesthetically blended with the coat portion 110 and the hand protectors 140, 150.

Any of the embodiments disclosed above may be used in connection with a variety of methods. For example, a method of removably coupling a hand protector 140, 150 with a coat 110 can comprise contacting a first fastener portion 160 a, 160 b disposed at a distal end 124, 134 of a sleeve 120, 130 of a coat 110 with a second fastener portion 170 a, 170 b disposed at a proximal end 146, 156 of a hand protector 140, 150. The method may further comprise engaging each of the first fastener portion 160 a, 160 b and the second fastener portion 170 a, 170 b such that the hand protector 140, 150 is coupled to the coat 110 via the engagement of the first fastener portion 160 a, 160 b and the second fastener portion 170 a, 170 b.

In some embodiments, the method may further comprise disengaging each of the first fastener portion 160 a, 160 b and the second fastener portion 170 a, 170 b such that the hand protector 140, 150 is at least partially uncoupled from the coat 110. In various embodiments, as discussed above, the first fastener portion 160 a, 160 b may comprise a first zipper portion, and the second fastener portion 170 a, 170 b may comprise a second zipper portion.

Other embodiments may include a sleeve, apart or distinct from a coat portion. The sleeve may be worn simply on the arm of a user. A hand protector may be removably couplable to a distal end of the sleeve. A fastener may removably couple the hand protector to the distal end of the sleeve.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to utilize the present disclosure to its fullest extent. The examples and embodiments disclosed herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and exemplary and not a limitation of the scope of the present disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art, and having the benefit of this disclosure, that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the disclosure herein. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A coat assembly comprising: a coat portion comprising a first sleeve and a second sleeve; a first hand protector removably couplable to a distal end of the first sleeve; and a second hand protector removably couplable to a distal end of the second sleeve.
 2. The coat assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first hand protector and the second hand protector is selected from at least one of a glove or a mitten.
 3. The coat assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the first hand protector and the second hand protector is a glove.
 4. The coat assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the first hand protector and the second hand protector is a mitten.
 5. The coat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hand protector is removably couplable to the distal end of the first sleeve via a first fastener, and wherein the second hand protector is removably couplable to the distal end of the second sleeve via a second fastener.
 6. The coat assembly of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener is selected from at least one of a hook and loop fastener, a zipper, a plurality of buttons, a plurality of clasps, or a plurality of snaps.
 7. The coat assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the first fastener and the second fastener is a zipper.
 8. The coat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first sleeve comprises a first cuff at or adjacent the distal end of the first sleeve, wherein the second sleeve comprises a second cuff at or adjacent the distal end of the second sleeve, and wherein each of the first cuff and the second cuff is coupled to a first portion of a zipper.
 9. The coat assembly of claim 8, wherein the first hand protector comprises a first cuff at or adjacent a proximal end of the first hand protector, wherein the second hand protector comprises a second cuff at or adjacent a proximal end of the second hand protector, and wherein each of the first cuff and the second cuff is coupled to a second portion of a zipper.
 10. The coat assembly of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the zipper is removably couplable to the second portion of the zipper.
 11. The coat assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first hand protector and the second hand protector is interchangeable with each of a third hand protector and a fourth hand protector, respectively.
 12. The coat assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the first hand protector and the second hand protector is configured for different environmental conditions than each of the third hand protector and the fourth hand protector.
 13. The coat assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the first hand protector and the second hand protector is configured for a different use than each of the third hand protector and the fourth hand protector.
 14. A garment comprising: a sleeve configured to be positioned on an arm of a wearer of the garment; and a hand protector configured to be removably attached to a distal end of the sleeve, wherein the hand protector in an attached configuration is disposed in a fixed position relative to the sleeve, and wherein the hand protector in an uncoupled configuration is disposed completely uncoupled from the sleeve.
 15. The garment of claim 14, wherein the sleeve is one of a pair of sleeves of the garment and the hand protector is one of a pair of hand protectors of the garment.
 16. The garment of claim 14, wherein the sleeve comprises a first fastener portion, and wherein the hand protector comprises a second fastener portion.
 17. The garment of claim 16, wherein the first fastener portion is configured to be removably attached to the second fastener portion.
 18. The garment of claim 16, wherein the first fastener portion comprises a first zipper portion, wherein the second fastener portion comprises a second zipper portion, and wherein the first zipper portion is configured to be removably attached to the second zipper portion, such that the hand protector is configured to be removably attached to the coat via the first zipper portion and the second zipper portion.
 19. A method of removably coupling a hand protector and a coat, the method comprising: contacting a first fastener portion disposed at a distal end of a sleeve of the coat with a second fastener portion disposed at a proximal end of a hand protector; and engaging each of the first fastener portion and the second fastener portion to removably couple the hand protector to the distal end of the sleeve of the coat via the engagement of the first fastener portion and the second fastener portion.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: disengaging each of the first fastener portion and the second fastener portion such that the hand protector is completely uncoupled from the coat. 